INMATE GUILTY; SENT THREAT TO FEDERAL JUDGE

San Diego 
An inmate serving time for murder has been convicted of sending a death threat to a San Diego federal judge from his cell.

Eric Anthony Lopez mailed a letter in 2005 to Judge Irma E. Gonzalez suggesting that he had, or would, expose her to anthrax, according to federal court documents.

He was indicted in 2010. A jury trial for Lopez began Feb. 14 before U.S. District Judge Larry Burns in San Diego. The next day, the jury deliberated for about two hours and found Lopez guilty of delivering a threatening communication to a federal judge.

Lopez faces up to 10 years in prison at his sentencing, set for May 14, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

In the letter, Lopez wrote, “you are in grave mortal danger.”

“Neither the US Marshal Service nor any agency be able to protect you from my primary goals to eliminate and make an example of you!

“Your well being is in my control. … Let me introduce you to your grim reaper. ‘Old’ Bacillis Anthracis.”

No powder was in the envelope, which Gonzalez’s clerk opened, a court document said.

Lopez had been sentenced to 25 years to life in prison after a 2003 murder conviction.

On Dec. 23, 2005, he sent similar threatening letters to two federal judges.

The one to Gonzalez bore a return address from the San Bernardino County jail in Rancho Cucamonga. Gonzalez had never handled a case involving Lopez, and she had no idea why he would send her the letter, court records said.

The second letter, postmarked in the City of Industry, was addressed to a federal judge in Los Angeles who once handled a civil-rights case involving Lopez. Lopez expressed dissatisfaction that the judges had not responded to previous letters in which he asked for legal advice.